Antique Trader Blog - Antiques Blog

So if you don't find a deal at the antique mall ...

Karen — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 18:33:12 GMT

... do you ask for your own?

With 72,000 square feet and 600 booths and lighted cases, the Exit 76 Antique Mall of Edinburgh, Ind., is one of the largest in the Midwest. With plenty to offer antique shoppers.

The trend, according to an article in the Indianapolis Business Journal, is that more shoppers are asking mall personnel to call up antiques vendors and ask for a better price on items they're interested in. And shoppers are usually getting a discount of about 10 percent.

Another trend: they've seen an "increase in traffic from adults ages 23 to 35" ... those who are furnishing houses and apartments for the first time.

Most of the antique malls that I've been to have a 10 percent cash or check discount on items over 20 percent, unless the item is marked "firm" ... but each mall is different, of course.

I can appreciate both sides of the transaction: buyers want their dollars to stretch as far as possible, and sellers need to turn a decent profit to stay in business.

What do you think?

Do you find yourself asking for more discounts than you used to?

If you work in a shop or mall, have you noticed an uptick in patrons asking for a "better price"?

— Eric Bradley

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Favorite Finds Contest returns to Antique Trader

Karen — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 18:08:55 GMT

Crack open your Underwood portables and sharpen your quills: the 2nd Annual Antique Trader Favorite Finds Contest returns. (Read a recap of the 2009 Favorite Finds Contest HERE.)

This is the second year we are offering this contest through our website and our printed magazine. Now through Sept. 30, you may submit your stories of yard sale surprises or auction action that resulted in that find of a lifetime.

The find doesn’t have to rank up there with a long lost copy of the Declaration of Independence to qualify as a winner.

Past entries to the Favorite Finds Contest range from an old marble purchased for 5 cents and later sold for $85 to composite German candy containers. Last year’s winning entry involved two cookie jar collectors on their quest at a crazy California estate sale.

We hope this year’s prize will encourage you to submit your story. This year’s winner will receive a free, one-year subscription to Antique Trader magazine and a seven-title reference library from Krause Publications.

Responses will be published in October cover dated issues of Antique Trader magazine as well as on www.AntiqueTrader.com.

Participants are free to enter as many times as they wish; each submission must be an original story. Each submission must include the author’s full name, hometown and state and a telephone number or e-mail address. Read the full contest rules at www.antiquetrader.com.

Send your entries by Sept. 30 to Antique Trader Favorite Finds, 700 E. State St., Iola, WI 54990 or to ATNEWS@fwmedia.com or eric.bradley@fwmedia.com.

If sending by e-mail, please include the words Favorite Finds in the subject line of your message. ■

Last year’s Antique Trader Favorite Finds contest resulted in dozens of entries ranging from the funny to the downright amazing. To get you in the mood of sharing your story, here’s one reader’s tale of triumph: Garage sale shopper’s $50 find now the pride of her china cupboard.

— Eric Bradley

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Columnists report on keys to antiques business success

Karen — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 17:13:01 GMT

This week we offer you two sides of the same coin.

Columnist Wayne Jordan and guest columnist Daryle Lambert write about the changing market place of antiques and how important it is for all of us to keep an eye towards the future while we enjoy the past.

Jordan’s column (Elements shifting power from antique dealers) talks about the changing way collectors are consuming information on antiques and collectibles. Collectors demand on-the-spot pricing analysis and research through hand-held, Internet-ready devices. We are seeing this more than ever on our website, as well as how advertisers are now promoting their auctions; many are replacing long listings of antiques and collectibles with a simple website address.

Lambert (Knowledge is the key to antique dealers' success) urges dealers to branch out and keep learning about new areas and emerging trends. He urges dealers to attend antique shows, read magazines and network to get a better bead on what’s selling, and how prices are changing.

Both gentlemen offer crucial messages to today’s shoppers and dealers. The antiques world will never be the same from here on out. It’s our duty to usher in a new era for the next generation of collectors and dealers. That duty starts with investing in your skills and education.

Magazine update

The July 7 cover dated issue featured better cover stock and improved inside pages. We’ll see less bleed-through on the pictures and ads.

Thank you for sticking with us through this transition. If you have any questions or concerns about delivery or readability of your magazine, please contact me at the address at left or at eric.bradley@fwmedia.com.

We have made many changes based on subscribers’ suggestions, so please don’t think your questions or concerns will go unnoticed.

— Eric Bradley

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Can I help you find anything today?

Karen — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 20:35:56 GMT

The weather has turned warm (yes, sometimes too warm), and the summer show season is in full swing, which prompts this week's Question of the Week:

What are some of the items you specifically seek at outdoor shows? Garden furniture? Architectural antiques? Smalls?

Send replies to Letters to the Editor, c/o Antique Trader, 700 E. State St., Iola, WI 54990 or to eric.bradley@fwmedia.com.

Or, of course, you can always post a reply here on the Antique Trader blog.

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Why buy a repro when you can get the real thing?

Karen — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 20:11:13 GMT

My eyes just about bugged out of my head.

Glancing through a mail order catalog recently there they were: More than four pages worth of “vintage charm for your home.”

A major national catalog retailer has picked up a line of reproduction “Depression-era glassware” and has it on sale for just a few bucks. The glassware is in the more popular colors of Depression glass and there are also some pieces usually found made of milk glass, such as hens on nests and assorted candy jars.

These are the pieces that it took five pages in “Warman’s Depression Glass, 5th edition,” to illustrate.

The real troubling part is that the prices the new reproductions are selling for are the exact same prices for the originals that can be found at your local shop or county auction. I some cases, the originals can be found even cheaper. An EAPG footed candy dish selling for $5 online looks very similar to the reproduction selling for $11 in the catalog.

Sure $11 isn’t much. And to most people an $11 reproduction doesn’t represent the greatest threat to the antiques business. But it’s something to take seriously.

Isn’t it funny how often dealers and collectors can be heard lamenting the state of the antique market? Yet, major retailers are turning to our hobbies to make a quick buck when times turn tough. One would think a few knock-offs here and there would reaffirm our trade, but in the case of mass produced reproductions it only hurts.

Maybe these reproductions will catch the eye of more young collectors who will then start searching out new pieces and eventually discover the real thing. Plus, the repros further open the chasm.

The trouble is, the reproductions make it all that more difficult to sell authentic pieces and educate a customer on what makes the piece worth copying in the first place.

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Wonder Woman's new costume wasn't the first

Karen — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 19:22:02 GMT

All the news outlets today are featuring Wonder Woman's new outfit, set to debut in issue No. 600.

Our friends over at Comics Buyers Guide (also published by F+W Media, Inc.) show the Amazon Princess has had a few costume changes over the years. It's a perspective you won't find anywhere else and totally worth visiting.

The full story on Wonder Woman's New/Old look was posted today on the CBGExtra Blog.

-posted by Eric Bradley

Postcard reaches sender's grandson after 95 years

Karen — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 19:09:17 GMT

A fascinating postcard story is making news worldwide this week. Consider this a different twist on the often-reported "the-post-office-finally-delivers" type story.

The AP reports a postcard sent home by a Bosnian soldier in World War I finally reached his family after 95 years, thanks to an American collector, who bought it for $50 at a show in Long Beach, Calif. The postcard collector, Nihad Eric Dzinovic, said it was just another day searching for another item for his estimated 200,000-piece collection.

Come to find out, Dzinovic accidentally met a man named Nadir Bicakcic in an antique shop in downtown Sarajevo during a recent visit. His name rang a bell. The next day he found the card and Bicakcic. When Bicakcic looked at the front of the card, he froze.

The card showed a group of soldiers and one, third from the right, had a mustache and familiar eyes. It was his grandfather who, after returning from World War I, became mayor of Sarajevo.

Bicakcic intends to enlarge both sides and hang the copies on his wall. The original will be locked in his safe.

The full story will be in a future issue of Antique Trader.

Postcard collector? You may enjoy these columns by Barbara Andrews:

    • Recycled postcards: art or crime?
    • Real photos make fun postcards
    • The mischief makers
    • Recycling For the ages

Visit www.antiquetrader.com/postcards for more postcard related articles.

The Post Card Collection Software V-11 is our newest version of our collectible inventory software. It sports a new look, more in depth fields and more reports for the collector.

-posted by Eric Bradley

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Warman's Jewelry author Kathy Flood focus of teleseminar

Karen — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 21:18:48 GMT

Although readers of the June 30 issue of Antique Trader will get a sneak peak of the new Warman's Jewelry, 4th edition by Kathy Flood (right), you can get a chance to chat with Kathy in an exclusive teleconference hosted by The Queen of Auctions Lynn Dralle.

Kathy will be the featured expert where she will answer questions about buying and selling costume jewelry! It will be this Wednesday, June 16 at 5 pm PDT, 8 pm EDT.

This teleseminar is free for members of members of Dralle's Queen's Court but costs $29.95 for everyone else. If you can’t make the live call it will be recorded and available as a download soon after.

For those of you not familiar with Dralle, during the last 12 years she has established herself as the poster child of eBay success stories. Starting in 1998, Dralle has overseen a strong eBay business. She has since appeared on hundreds of radio and TV programs, including NBC's "Evening Magazine" and "Inside Edition" with Deborah Norville. She was featured in the September 2006 issue of "Good Housekeeping." She has also produced and hosted a series of DVD programs entitled "The Queen's Academy." She is still an eBay power seller and sells about 600 items each month at online auction. She lives in Southern California with her two children.

-posted by Eric Bradley

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• Find us on Twitter and Facebook
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Collecting and the 'happiness of pursuit'

Karen — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 19:18:09 GMT

One of the great things about this magazine is encountering such a diversity of people and the collections they are passionate about. One day may be pinback buttons and the next, Lalique hood ornaments. (Lalique hood ornament photo courtesy Lalique, France.)

The amazement extends into my private time and a recent feature on the often reclusive, but always intelligent, art collector Charles Saatchi, has fascinated me. He and his brother co-founded the global advertising agency Saatchi & Saatchi.

Saatchi has been answering questions by readers of TheDailyBeast.com, an Internet news and commentary website. I eagerly check the site every week for another serving of idiosyncratic nuggets on how Saatchi views the world and his quest as a collector extraordinaire. Besides offering pithy responses to questions such as “What is mankind’s greatest unsolved mystery that particularly puzzles you?”

Saatchi: “Why kamikaze pilots wore helmets. Why is it called a TV set when you only get one? Why does a fat chance and a slim chance mean the same thing?

One reader asked Saatchi if he believed he had “a collecting obsessive compulsive disorder.”

His response: “My aim in life isn’t so much the pursuit of happiness as the happiness of pursuit.”

It’s under this philosophy that we offer you an excerpt of Kathy Flood’s new book, “Warman’s Jewelry,” 4th edition. It’s a departure from the other jewelry reference books we’ve offered and truly speaks to the heart of those passionate about a singular personal pursuit.

I hope you enjoy and take a moment to reflect on your own “happiness of pursuit.”

-posted by Eric Bradley

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Mated pair of Andrew Clemens sand art bottles surface ... again

Karen — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 05:52:09 GMT

A curious and unique pair of sand art bottles, handcrafted by Andrew Clemens (1857-1894) of McGregor, Iowa, will be offered for sale in a July 2 auction held by W. Yoder Auction and carried live via ProxiBid. Popularly referred to as the Sweetheart Sandbottles, these rare bottles have surfaced for sale no less than three times in the last five years - twice in just the last four months.

Clemens lost his hearing and speech at age 5 due to a "brain fever." As a deaf-mute he earned worldwide acclaim for his ability to "paint" images inside blown glass bottles with nothing more than a set of special tools (including a fish hook) and the patience of a yeoman. He was proud that his specially colored sand came from Iowa's Pictured Rocks area of Pikes Peak State Park. According to several online articles, Clemens created most of his work from 1880-1886 and is acknowledged as the inventor and possibly the sole practitioner of his art form. Antique Trader featured Clemens' work in a cover story in February 2008.

It's estimated that of the hundreds of sand art bottles Clemens made during his regrettably short life (he died at age 37 or 42 depending on which account you read) only about 50 bottles remain. They are highly coveted by American folk art collectors for their ingenuity and beauty. Prices range from about $500 for lesser quality examples to as much as $25,000. Four bottles are on display at the Iowa State Historical Museum in Des Moines and other bottles are documented on a fan site.

They are referred to as the Sweetheart Sandbottles, at least that's how auctioneer Wes Cowan described them when he sold the pair for $24,500 (not including buyer's premium) in February 2005. The commissioned bottles were made for Helen Wimmler, Milwaukee, and Henry Reinken, Manitowoe, (sic) Wis. (The Wisconsin city of Manitowoc is misspelled.)

Fast forward to Feb. 16, 2010. In a listing that's since expired from general searches, the sandbottles were offered by a Florida seller on eBay. By all accounts the listing shows the bottles were claimed after five bids for $19,000. The listing is for the same Wimmler and Reinken bottles, "the only 'mated pair' of Clemens sand bottle art."

For whatever reason, the wonderful Sweetheart Sandbottles are back on the market and represent one more opportunity for collectors to own a piece of peculiar folk art. The bottles are shown on Yoder's auction website along with three other rare examples included in the firm's July 2 auction. One of the three examples depicts an American eagle above a banner reading "M.W. Cole," another shows a paddle wheel boat and the third depicts a floral bouquet in an urn.

-posted by Eric Bradley

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•Find us on Twitter and Facebook
•Visit the Antique Trader Website and sign up for our FREE eNewsletter.
•Browse hundreds of collectibles reference books in our store.
•Need pricing data? Check out Warman's Antiques & Collectibles 2011 Price Guide.
•And browse the Antique Trader Classifieds or place your own online ad - FREE

Record set for Lalanne sculptures

Karen — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 16:53:27 GMT

VAN NUYS, Calif. – Los Angeles Modern Auctions (LAMA) announces Francois-Xavier Lalanne Singes Attentifs SI & SII, sold for a record price of $199,062 (estimate $100,000-$125,000) and was the top lot in the May 23 Modern Art & Design Auction.

The artist’s daughter, Marie, was on hand to witness the sale and posed for a photograph with one of her father’s sculptures.

The May 23, 2010, Modern Art & Design Auction totaled $1.67 million (including buyer’s premium) selling 64 percent of the 451 lots available. More than 300 people attended the auction, making it the largest attendance at a LAMA auction to date.

The gallery was standing room only and was filled with buyers from all over the world. Buyers represented France, Portugal, Israel, Mexico, and a heavy percentage from California. ■

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•Find us on Twitter and Facebook
•Visit the Antique Trader Website and sign up for our FREE eNewsletter.
•Browse hundreds of collectibles reference books in our store.
•Need pricing data? Check out Warman's Antiques & Collectibles 2011 Price Guide.
•And browse the Antique Trader Classifieds or place your own online ad - FREE!

This issue made it all worthwhile

Karen — Fri, 28 May 2010 20:08:18 GMT

It has been a crazy-busy week this week.

We've had two publication deadlines: the June 16 edition of Antique Trader and the Summer edition of the Antique Trader Traveler. The Traveler will be available soon as a free PDF download, so you'll want to watch for that. We'll announce when it's ready and where you can get it.

And, of course, we had the Auction Extra on Tuesday, and our regular e-newsletter that went out today. Plus, we had to produce next Tuesday's Auction Exra early because of the Memorial Day holiday on Monday. [You can sign up to receive your free Antique Trader e-newsletters at www.antiquetrader.com.]

Also, the office has been abuzz with preparations for the Randolph St. Market's Chicago Antique Market. Editor Eric Bradley will be out the door shortly to hop on down to Chicago and make final preparations there.

Whew! That's a lot of commotion!

But, I tell you what: Seeing this week's issue come together really made it all worthwhile. This may be our best issue yet! Here's a look at the cover. We've got a really fascinating piece on industrial antiques as our cover feature, and Eric had the chance to speak with American Pickers' Frank Wolfe on just that, industrial antiques.

I have to admit, when Eric told me about the industrial antiques feature, I had my doubts. But I have been completely won over.

We here at Antique Trader wish all of you a wonderful and safe holiday weekend. We're planning on sharing our weekend antiquing experiences with you — and we hope you'll do the same.

... and if you're in the area, drop by the Chicago Antique Market and experience the excitement! Eric will be at the Antique Trader Appraisal Fair.

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American Pickers second season premiers June 7

Karen — Sun, 23 May 2010 20:32:58 GMT

NEW YORK - Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz are once again searching the back roads, junkyards, and filled-to-the-brim barns in America for “rusty gold.” With an average of 3.8 million total viewers per episode in its first season, American Pickers, the No. 1 new cable series of 2010, returns for a second season with all new premieres beginning Monday, June 7 at 9pm ET on HISTORY.

Part sleuths, part antiques experts, and part cultural historians – Mike and Frank’s adventures bring them to small towns across the country in search of weird and wonderful Americana. Each treasure hunt leads them to fascinating, quirky characters – everyday people with stories that open a window onto American life.

As professional “pickers,” these childhood buddies comb through memorabilia and artifacts, hoping to find treasures among the trash. Sometimes they make a few bucks; and sometimes they walk away with little more than the history of an item.

The new season begins June 7 in North Carolina, where the duo comb through a collector’s abandoned outbuildings and find a 1950 Studebaker. Mike becomes obsessed with a 1934 pre-Airstream trailer, but can they negotiate a deal? Then, hoping to sell a choice vintage sign, they visit their friend and NASCAR champion Ryan Newman, who has a surprise of his own for the guys.

As their junkyard journeys continue, the pickers rummage through ramshackle school buses, a burned storage building, forgotten barns, salvage yards, and rust heaps in search of what they call “good junk.” They come across an item they’ve never seen before, place bets on what it actually is, and get a surprising assessment from the appraiser. They encounter a mother and daughter who catch the picking bug and give the guys a run for their money. And with nerves of steel, they try to strike deals with people who are often reluctant to part with their possessions.

Meanwhile, back in Iowa, Danielle Colby Cushman holds down the fort at Antique Archaeology. She spends her time getting leads, talking to sellers and doing research via trade publications and websites. Danielle also keeps the boys in line – while they keep her in stitches with their antics.

“We’re caretakers of treasures and the stories behind them,” says Mike. Traveling along with the duo, viewers will meet an assortment of American originals and watch as a patchwork of history unfolds – one treasure at a time.

Antique Trader covered American Picker's debut and its initial controversy in its February issue posted online.

Don't the coverage we gave PawnStars, American Pickers' sister show and the exclusive interview and video of Rick Harrison.

MEET THE “PICKERS”

Mike Wolfe

A lifelong “picker,” Mike has been combing through junk since the age of four. Over the years, he's earned a reputation as one of the country's foremost foragers, traveling coast to coast in search of forgotten treasures. Where other people see dilapidated barns and overgrown yards, Mike sees potential goldmines packed with rare finds and sensational stories.

Mike spends as much time as he can on the road, usually with Frank - his friend of 20 years and picking partner-in tow. "A picker's kind of like a nomad," he explains. Wherever they go, the two guys unearth hoards of unique items and spend some quality time with the offbeat characters who own them.

What exactly does Mike look for? "Anything I can make a buck on," he laughs. That could be anything from antique baby carriages and vintage jukeboxes to old cars and scrap metal. Mike's clients include interior designers, art directors, photographers and collectors – and he owns Antique Archaeology, a specialty shop that sells antiques, vintage items and more in sleepy Le Claire, Iowa. Visit Mike’s official company website here: www.antiquearcheology.com

Frank Fritz

Like his childhood friend Mike, Frank started picking early, collecting rocks and beer cans as a kid. He worked for many years as a fire and safety inspector but always had a passion for antiques, junk and anything with an engine. These days, he spends most of his time on the road with Mike, digging for treasure in barns, garages and junkyards across America.

Even-tempered and affable, he has a way with potential sellers and a knack for putting out fires: Mike calls him the bearded charmer. Frank does get a little carried away, however, by anything with an engine, and Mike often has to talk him out of buying yet another motorbike for his collection.

With their complementary personalities and shared love of picking, Frank and Mike make the perfect team. Still, since they're both out to cash in on their finds, some healthy competition always comes into play. Visit Frank’s official company website here: www.frankfritzfinds.com

Danielle Colby Cushman

While the guys are out picking, Danielle holds down the fort at Antique Archaeology - Mike's store and base of operations. She spends her time talking to buyers, packing up shipments and keeping Mike and Frank in line, while they keep her in stitches with their antics and jokes. Mike likes to say she's the glue that holds them all together. A mother of three, Danielle is always working on a new creative project, whether it's painting, designing clothes or selling vintage-inspired gifts online. She feels extremely proud of the "boys" and fortunate to work with such a talented pair.

-posted by Eric Bradley

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Antique Trader is giving a free antique appraisal to attendees of the Chicago Antique Market

Karen — Wed, 19 May 2010 04:59:13 GMT

Own an antique or collectible?
Of course you do!

Want to know its value?
Absolutely!

Come meet Antique Trader at Chicago's largest antiques and collectibles festival May 29-30! Every attendee to the Chicago Antique Market at the Randolph Street Market Festival will giving free antique appraisals at the inaugural Antique Trader Appraisal Fair. After shopping from aisles and aisles of more than 300 vendors inside and outside Chicago’s historic Plumbers Hall, regional and nationally-known antiques experts will answer your questions on family heirlooms and rare items from your collection.

Situated under the big top tent, every attendee is eligible for a free appraisal of an antique or collectible with additional appraisals (as time allows) available at $10 each. Appraisal fair hours are limited to 1 to 4 p.m., Saturday, May 29 and from 11 to 3 p.m., Sunday, May 30.

Among the experts scheduled to appear:

* Mark Moran, appraiser and senior editor of Warman's Antiques & Collectibles 2011 Price Guide, 44th Edition antiques and collectibles books for Krause Publications and an appraiser for PBS’s “Antiques Roadshow.”

* Brett Benson owner of Jewel Sphinx Extraordinary Objects and Jewels

* Daryle Lambert, founder of the 31 Corp., and author of the book 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques and Collectibles.

Among the unique “show within a show” features at the Chicago Antique Market include:

* The Indie Designer Market, the lower level of Plumber’s Hall, features the hottest young designers creating avant garde and one-of-a-kind fashion, art and jewelry.

* The Vinyl Swap Meet, where thousands of collectible records from 45’s to LP’s, jazz to rock and show tunes are availabel to buy, swap or sell.

* The Fancy Food Market, offering all types of chocolates, cakes, breads, spices, olive oils, salsa to bring home or enjoy during the event.

More Info:

Chicago Antique Market at the Randolph Street Market Festival Saturday & Sunday, May 29-30, 2010

1350 Block W. Randolph Street & inside Plumbers Hall, 1340 W. Washington Street, Chicago.

Free pickup and drop off from Water Tower Place, 835 N Michigan Ave.

Show hours

10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, May 29
10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday, May 30

Antique Appraisal Fair Hours

1 to 4 p.m., Saturday, May 29
11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sunday, May 30

Tickets

$10, available at the gate or in advance online

Chicago Antique Market
312-666-1200
info@chicagoantiquemarket.com
www.chicagoantiquemarket.com

-Posted by Eric Bradley

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Nostalgia is a powerful force.

Karen — Fri, 14 May 2010 20:56:59 GMT

Nostalgia is a powerful force.

If you read both Melody Amsel-Arieli’s cover story on Judaica and the fascinating story behind former Illinois Gov. Jim Thompson’s recent duck decoy acquisition, you may see a common theme between two very different collecting areas.

The reasons people collect things have long fascinated me. It’s not so much what they collect, but why. For Amsel-Arieli, the collecting area of Judaica is deeply personal and reflects her family’s struggle and near extinction in the 20th century. For Thompson, his pursuit of Illinois-carved duck decoys reflects his admiration and respect of the state he served while in public office.

This is why we should never dismiss the reasons why someone collects. Thompson’s nostalgia for Illinois moved him to push the sales price of the Robert Elliston-carved decoy past its $12,000 to $15,000 estimate to its $40,250 sale price.

For true collectors, the object is a small part of the pursuit and joy. In most cases, it’s what the object represents that makes all the difference.
Happy Anniversary

This issue marks my one-year anniversary as your editor of Antique Trader. It has been a wonderful year and a fulfilling experience to talk with readers, work with talented writers and develop interesting projects and features on our website and in print.

Working with Online Editor Karen Knapstein, sales reps Ryan Solberg and Nick Ockwig and designer Wendy Wendt, our goal has been to diversify the magazine and provide information on the greatest variety of antiques and collectibles available. During the past year our team has completely changed the format, more than doubled the size of the magazine and has served more than 563,000 readers and more than 1 million page views on AntiqueTrader.com

The year to come will feature even more features, projects and plans. Thank you for making this year exciting and thank you for supporting our advertisers who support this magazine.

For me, each issue has been a collector’s edition.

— Eric Bradley

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Blue & White Pottery Club to convene in June

Karen — Thu, 13 May 2010 17:49:03 GMT

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — The Blue & White Pottery Club was founded in 1981 by a handful of Blue & White Stoneware pottery enthusiasts and collectors, principally in the Midwest. The Blue & White pottery interests include Blue & White, Uhl, Blue & Gray (Utica/Flemish), Sleepy Eye, Spongeware, Red Wing, and other stoneware. The Blue & White Pottery Club now has more than 300 members reaching from coast to coast and border to border.

The principal goals of the Blue & White Pottery Club are to share information, encourage learning, and foster an appreciation of the distinct history, wide variety, and increasing collectability of Blue & White Stoneware pottery. Equally important goals are the promotion and nurturing of friendships with fellow collectors and to further the equal opportunity for all to participate in new discoveries and exciting information about Blue & White pottery.

Attending the Club’s annual convention each June is a highlight of membership; this year it will be held June 10-12, 2010, at the Cedar Rapids Marriott in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. One of the highlights of the convention is the Club Consignment Auction consisting of approximately 120 pieces of premium stoneware including Blue & White, Sleepy Eye, Red Wing, Western, Whites Utica as well as others.

To join the Blue & White Pottery Club, a membership form can be found on their website at www.blueandwhitepottery.org and you will also find this years convention agenda along with more information about convention and the Blue & White Pottery Club.

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April Antique Trader sweepstakes winner announced

Karen — Mon, 10 May 2010 19:01:28 GMT

This week’s column by Wayne Jordan touches on an issue many dealers will be faced with in the near future.

Jordan’s background as an auctioneer gives him a unique opportunity on the mindset of antiques dealers who have decided to ‘retire.’ His advice on how a dealer can best prepare his or her estate will be valuable for anyone planning their next stage. Many dealers I know end up closing their shop, selling their inventory at auction and following the sun via the show circuit. Jordan offers dealers some practical advice on how a dealer can sell both their shop and the inventory, which during the current market is as good as money in the bank.

[CLICK HERE to read Jordan’s column.]

Antique Trader Appraisal Fair

Don’t miss pages 22-21 in this week’s issue. [CLICK HERE to read the announcement.] We announce the first Antique Trader Appraisal Fair at Chicago’s Randolph Street Market, May 29-30. The Memorial Day season opener is one of the biggest events of the entire year for the group. Every ticket holder is entitled to a free appraisal of their treasures.

We’d be glad if you’d show up, introduce yourself and get a free appraisal from one of the experts we’ll have on hand. The event features up to 300 dealers exhibiting inside and outside Chicago’s historic Plumber’s Hall, 1300 West Randolph Street.

We have a winner

Lucky winner Kevin Wahr of Anchorage, Ak., will receive a copy of Vintage Wristwatches by Reyne Haines, 2009, Krause Publications. Wahr was randomly chosen from more than 5,000 entries logged during the month of April. May’s contest offers a library of titles in honor of our veterans. Details are on page 7.

— Eric Bradley

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• Reference books available about your favorite collectibles HERE
• Antique Trader message boards HERE.
• Browse the Antique Trader Classifieds or place your FREE online ads HERE.
• Enter the Antique Trader Treasure Hunt Sweepstakes HERE.

Listen to Justin Moen talk totally rad 1980s toys on Harry Rinker's 'Whatcha Got?'

Karen — Tue, 04 May 2010 19:44:18 GMT

Our good friend and collectibles book editor Justin Moen, who just happens to write the "Talking Toys" column for Antique Trader, was interviewed by Harry Rinker on his April 25 Whatcha Got? radio show for Genesis Communications.

Justin talks about the process of putting together his flag ship title, Toys & Prices 2010, 17th Edition. This year he added a theme for each chapter but specifically focused on 1980s toys. He also reviews the grading process he uses to determine a toy's condition for pricing.

The whole radio show is great but if you want to catch Justin's intro, scroll to 30:20, or move the dial a bit more than halfway through the show. An archive of Rinker's shows can be found here. A listing of Moen's books still in print can be found here. He may be reached at justin.moen@fwmedia.com.

-posted by Eric Bradley

Better paper on the way

Karen — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 18:24:43 GMT

Thank you to those who took the time to write or call about Antique Trader’s new look. It means a great deal to us as Antique Trader continues to evolve to better reflect the hobby and your changing tastes. Making such large changes to a 53-year-old antiques publication is an ongoing process and I respect that you care enough about the title to voice your opinion.

A selection of your letters is reprinted in Antique Trader magazine. They do a darn good job showing the passion you have for the hobby.

We’ve already heard the new format has streamlined delivery. A reader in New York state called and reported his copy arrived on time — a first for him over the last few issues. This reader also commented about the new size and the type of paper we use. Although he didn’t care for the paper stock, his immediate attention was on the fact the new size allows for more pages and better content, which matters more than ever now that its finally being delivered on time.

Nevertheless, you have spoken and we have listened. Although the new size is here to stay, we will be improving the quality of the paper in the next few weeks. The cover stock will be heavier and brighter. The inside pages will be a heavier, stronger sheet with less show through. The paper is an investment by F+W Media for the sole purpose of improving Antique Trader’s readability.

Again, to all of you Antique Trader subscribers who wrote in – thank you. As always, I welcome and encourage you to request features or column topics on any collecting area. Feel free to send reactions to the articles, features, new look and our columnists at any time. Send your thoughts to Antique Trader Editor, 700 E State St., Iola, WI 54990 or to eric.bradley@fwmedia.com.

On a related note, we are hearing reports that many of our subscribers have been targeted by agencies attempting to charge as much as $70 a year — three times our promotional subscription rates. Official renewal notices will only come from Palm Coast Data and F+W Media, Inc.

If you receive a notice and you suspect it is not from Antique Trader, please call Palm Coast Data at 386-246-3434 and a representative can help you.

— Eric Bradley

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Antique Trader Question of the Week: New, imported items

Karen — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 14:14:08 GMT

We at Antique Trader would like to know your opinion on the following:

What do you think about antique dealers selling new items at shows that are imported from overseas?

Send your replies to eric.bradley@fwmedia.com or Letters to the Editor, c/o Antique Trader, 700 E State St., Iola, WI 54990.

Or, feel free to post a reply right here on the Antique Trader blog.

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Anniversary of PT Barnum's 200th in Antique Trader

Karen — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 17:42:28 GMT

The May 5 edition of Antique Trader is filled with antique and collectible news and features.

The main cover feature celebrates the 200th anniversary of P.T. Barnum's birth. Circus enthusiasts are planning a year of celebrations and events to commemorate the occasion.

CLICK HERE to read the Antique Trader cover feature on P.T. Barnum and circus collectibles

This week's Antique Trader Question of the Week:

What do you think of collectors or crafters physically altering postcards for craft projects?

Post a reply here or drop us a line at eric.bradley@fwmedia.com. Or feel free to send us a note: Letters to the Editor, c/o Antique Trader, 700 E State Street, Iola, WI 54990.

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RWCS announces free trial membership offer

Karen — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 20:18:38 GMT

RED WING, Minn. – As part of its 2010 membership initiative, the Red Wing Collectors Society (RWCS) is offering FREE trial membership to everyone interested in Red Wing stoneware and pottery. Established in 1977, the RWCS is the largest group of collectors dedicated to the study and preservation of Red Wing and American pottery in the country.

As part of the free trial, participant will receive the February and April issues of the 2010 RWCS Newsletter. Packed with full-color feature articles about various lines of Red Wing wares, collector profiles, collecting trends, latest finds and club news, the Society has one of the best newsletters of any collectors group in the nation.

Those who take advantage of the offer will also have access to the “Members Only” section of the RWCS Web site with a temporary user id and password. When you log in, you will be able to access the hundreds of resources available to our members including: past newsletters, articles, Convention supplements, etc.

This offer has no gimmicks and no catches. Since a credit card number is not required for this free trial, trial membership will simply expire May 31, 2010 and you won’t need to call the Society to cancel.

“If you find value in the trial membership, we’d love for you to contact our office and join the RWCS as a primary member,” says RWCS Executive Director Stacy Wegner. “Annual primary membership costs $25 and includes a lot of great benefits, including the opportunity to buy our annual members only commemorative piece. But if you decide the RWCS isn’t for you, you can keep the newsletters as a gift and you owe us nothing.”

Other benefits of RWCS primary membership include free access to the RWCS video library of more than 200 educational presentations, the opportunity to attend the annual July Convention and February MidWinter events, and the ability meet and network with other members. As long as there’s at least one primary member in a household, associate memberships including all benefits except the newsletter are available for spouses, etc. for an additional $10 annually.

To sign up for this free trial offer, please visit the Free Trial Membership page on the RWCS Web site [HERE], call the RWCS Business Office at 800-977-7927 or e-mail your name and mailing address to trialmembership@redwingcollectors.org. Use promo code ATa1.

For more information about the Red Wing Collectors Society, please visit www.redwingcollectors.org.

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Introducing the Collecting Insider

Karen — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 19:08:37 GMT

... formerly known as the VIP Club.

The Collecting Insider is your access to insider news, key information for identifying and determining the value of collectibles, a place to buy and sell antiques and collectibles, the source for exclusive savings on collector resources.

Antique Trader Publisher Dianne Wheeler says of the new program, "We are very excited to introduce this new savings opportunity to our Collectibles Family! At a time when money is tight and stress is abundant, it's great to be able to offer solid content and valuable information for your hobby — at a fraction of the retail price."

With your membership you get:

One-year (40 issues) U.S. subscription to Antique Trader (retail value $119.60)

One-year of online access to Collect.com with up-to-date pricing for tens of thousands of antiques and collectibles and a place to buy and sell your collectibles (retail value $39.98)

Downloadable online recorded seminar "How to Get a Certified Appraiser for Your Antiques" (retail value: $9.99) 10% off purchases made through Shop.Collect.com for one year

Downloadable resource "Successful Strategies for Buying and Selling Collectibles Online" (retail value $4.99) Plus, preferred access to special sales, early notification of new products at Shop.Collect.com, and exclusive savings from Antique Trader, Comics Buyer's Guide and Collect.com partnerships

The total value of this premiere package is $194.56, but when you join the Collectibles Insider you get these things and more for just $49.98. That's a savings of 74% and a deal you can't afford to pass up – sign up to become a Collecting Insider today!

The total value of all of these collecting resources is $194.56, but when you take your place as a Collecting Insider you get all of this and more for just $49.98. That's a savings of 74% on access to information you can use in every aspect of collecting.

Learn more about the Collecting Insider program

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Would YOU get into the antiques business again?

Karen — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 13:57:20 GMT

Question of the Week:

If you could do it all over again, at what level would you get involved in the antiques business?

Send your replies to eric.bradley @fwmedia.com or to Letters to the Editor, c/o Antique Trader, 700 E. State St., Iola, WI 54945.

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• Find us on Twitter HERE.
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• Visit the Antique Trader Web site HERE. Sign up for our FREE newsletters!
• If you really like what you see, get your very own subscription to Antique Trader HERE.

Hurry! This sale won't last long!

Karen — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 23:25:43 GMT

No Foolin! This offer ends at 11:59 p.m. EDT April 4, 2010.

CLICK HERE or on the coupon above to take advantage of the Spring Into Savings event and pick up all those antiques and collectibles books you've had your eye on.

Question of the Week: Antique opportunity regrets

Karen — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 21:11:29 GMT

This week's Antique Trader Question of the Week:

What is the one antique or collectible you regret passing up?

Send your replies to eric.bradley@fwmedia.com or to Letters to the Editor, c/o Antique Trader, 700 E. State St., Iola, WI 54945.

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This package is the best part

Karen — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 21:06:56 GMT

On our way to a family vacation, we stopped at a small country auction not far off the highway leading to our getaway.

By now, our three kids are used to such quick stops and the whining is at a minimum when we tell them there will probably be some box lots of toys to poke through.

Walking along a row of tables covered with clocks, lamps, boxes of kitchenwares, I spotted a small majolica bottle with an impish grin. The telltale signs of a majolica glaze shown through years of shelf dust. A closer look sparked my memory and visions of plump little figures dishing wise nuggets came to mind. It was one of illustrator Palmer Cox’s little Brownie creations staring up through the grime.

Cox’s Brownies are famous for being the first commercially successful pop culture figures, first appearing in 1883. The Brownie characters were based (in part) in folklore but were adapted to help marketers sell everything from breakfast cereal to cameras. The figures were so popular with collectors and children that Eastman Kodak named its handheld Kodak Brownie camera after them.

As in most purchases, my interest was in curiosity rather than value. When the auctioneer called the item a “whiskey nip,” I knew the little bottle was going on vacation with the whole family.

When we got back, the research commenced. That’s when I learned about Schafer & Vater, featured on this week’s cover. [CLICK HERE to read the article.] Although they didn’t make the Brownie whiskey nip, I became fascinated in the company’s diverse history.

According to research done by collector Don Bergsengs, Schafer & Vater used various types of clays. Items made of hard paste porcelain, soft paste porcelain, jasper, bisque, and majolica can be found. You can find the jasper in green, blue, pink, lavender, and white.

Most appealing to me is that the company made its fortune in the novelty whiskey bottles that poked fun of “the drink” at a time when Prohibition was sweeping the globe. The bottles were being sold through the Sears Roebuck & Co. catalog just 10 years before Prohibition was adopted in the United States; it was already adopted in parts of Canada and across Russia.

The bottles represent craftsmanship and work ethic and are one more example why we shouldn’t take life too seriously.

Eric Bradley
Editor

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Collectors keep Quimper market vibrant

Karen — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:47:00 GMT

This week’s cover story on Quimper pottery illustrates what’s best about collectors.

Collectors are those people who, when they develop an affinity for a particular item, read and research everything there is on that topic. They stick with their appreciation no matter the obstacles. The hobby is more about personal enjoyment than it is about dollars and cents. So it is, evidently, with Quimper collectors. Chriss Swaney’s article shows demand is still strong for Quimper pieces even though skilled faience makers in France create new pieces every year.

Dealers say they are experiencing this demand at shows as well. Noted Quimper expert Joan Datesman told me that she continues to make her strongest sales and meet the most engaged customers at shows. Although the market is more sophisticated than it was 30 years ago, the market is still vibrant with new people inquiring about the pottery every month. She said many of these inquiries are from those who are just now inheriting collections; it will truly be exciting during the course of the next few years to see these fantastic items come to market.

On page 14 we highlight a spectacular family collection coming to market. The Tom Gray collection has the makings of becoming a part of North Carolina history. Every object in the sale has a personal story directly connected to Gray, his mother, cousin, great-uncle or the Moravians who settled in Forsyth County, N.C. The 560-lot sale is a rare opportunity for North Carolinians to enjoy their heritage on a new level.

Elsewhere in this issue, as seen on page 6, I was glad Anne Gilbert sent along a value on old barn cupolas. These structures are everywhere where we live and many are pretty additions. I have often wondered myself what the stately provincial additions would be worth on the open market. Now that everyone will know they can be worth up to $800 apiece, I wonder how many will stay on the tops of barns and how many will find a home inside an urban loft somewhere.

On page 18 we offer you a sneak preview of our newly-designed Antique Trader. The issue will offer more pages, more color photos and more coverage on online sales and auctions. We will be keeping many of our popular features and adding new ones, and I think you’ll really be pleased with the final result.

This week’s guest column by dealer/picker Doug Singleton is the last contribution to our coverage on The History Channel’s “American Pickers” show. Rumor has it that a second season has been ordered. Stay tuned.

Eric Bradley
Editor

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Antique Trader columns cover a wide variety of antiques

Karen — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 18:36:58 GMT

Tips on finding good antique furniture; Q & A's on what your antiques and collectibles might be worth; antique dolls; art market analysis - you'll find it all on www.antiquetrader.com.

Here are some of our recent antiques, art, and collectibles columns:

Furniture Detective: Avoiding phony mahogany

Ask Antique Trader: Water cooler found at yard sale worth $400 to $500

Art Markets: LeRoy Neiman prints gaining momentum

Guest Column: How I paid my rent by thrifting - a favorite among Antique Trader readers

Postcard Album: Messages on humanitarian postcards still ring true

Furniture Detective: Veneer fact and fiction: Appreciating an age-old process

Speaking of Dolls: After 100 years, Bleuette still attracting new fans

Furniture Detective: Veneer fact and fiction: Appreciating an age-old process

This is a minute fraction of the wealth of information you will find on the Antique Trader Web site.

If you would like to see a specific topic covered, let us know: e-mail us at ATNews@fwmedia.com.

— Posted by Karen Knapstein

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Big changes to Antique Trader

Eric Bradley, editor — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 01:41:58 GMT

As all of our readers — be they collectors or dealers — have changed with the evolution of antiques trade, so have the publications that cover the hobby.

Our goal has always been to create a resource that is valuable and useful for all types of buyers and sellers. For the last few months we have been working behind the scenes to revamp and update Antique Trader into a publication that’s even more useful for antiques lovers. This includes a batch of new features, popular favorites, more pages, a new physical format and a closer association with our Web site for those of you on the go.

Did I mention more pages?

In the coming weeks we will introduce you to the new features and format, with the new Trader starting with the April 21 cover dated issue. Rest assured, all subscribers will continue to receive the same number of copies of the magazines each year. We just want to make them the best copies they can be.

I’d love to hear what you want to see with this change. Want more pictures and prices? More auction coverage? What do you need to be a better collector or dealer? Drop me a note at eric.bradley@fwmedia.com or call 800-726-9966, ext. 13233 and let’s talk.

We will, however, be making one change starting in the next issue. We will no longer be focusing on the North, East and West regions of the country. Instead we will concentrate more on photos, prices realized and shows. Once a month we will still focus on the South thanks to its popularity among readers.

American Pickers still a hot topic

In this issue we wind down the feedback from our March 3 cover story on The History Channel’s American Pickers television program. There is no doubt this show has struck a nerve. Next week’s issue will include a column by a professional picker who says there’s two sides to every transaction, but integrity looms large no matter what you’re selling.

We have a winner

A hearty congratulations is bestowed to Dennis Kluthe of Swansea, Ill., for winning the February Antique Trader Treasure Hunt Sweepstakes. Kluthe wins a four-volume set of hardcover books on historic postcards published by England’s Bodleian Library. The titles include Postcards from Utopia, Postcards of Lost Royals, Postcards from Checkpoint Charlie and Postcards of Political Icons. A special tip of the hat goes out to the thousands of people who entered for a chance to win. Thank you. The sweepstakes for March is for a copy of the newly updated Antique Trader Tools Price Guide, 3rd Edition by Clarence Blanchard, Krause Publications, 2010.

— Posted by Eric Bradley

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McCoy art pottery keeps Cabin Fever at bay

Eric Bradley, editor — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 20:55:58 GMT

Every so often a line from Pixar's Ratatouille pops in my head: "The world is often unkind to new talent, new creations ... the new needs friends."

So whenever a new shop opens up I try to be the first in line. Such was the case with a local shop that specializes in Art Deco and Mid Century Modern antiques and vintage furniture. It's a nice little shop tucked inside a two-story, brick building nestled in an aging downtown. Inside is a great assortment of consigned items and those resold by the shop owners.

On the first floor one can find Danish modern furniture and teak candlesticks, handsomely matched with Atomic 50s lamps and snack trays that are too cool for a thrift store but too new for an antiques shop.

I took my time and made sure to visit the basement. There on a shelf were two sleek green spheres peeking out from underneath shocks of dusty, dried eucalyptus stems poorly paired with clumps of burgandy silk flowers.

A closer look showed the bent stalks were crammed into a piece of florists foam that had been glued to the bottom of a nice pair of Nelson McCoy Art Deco vases from the 1940s. A quick rub of the thumb revealed their shiny glaze and the famous NM mark on the bottom.

The price sticker on the side said the pair were marked 75 percent off - about $5. The vases have a new home on our bookshelf - minus the eucalyptus.

Take some time to explore someplace new this weekend. We'd love to hear what you discovered.

Antique Trader annual to the rescue

Karen — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 16:30:26 GMT

A couple of weeks ago, my family headed to Wisconsin Dells, a popular play-place in Central Wisconsin, to celebrate my daughter's birthday.

Of course, what's a trip anywhere without heading into some local antique shops and antique malls. We managed to make it to three shops before the child's feet gave out. Of course, I was paranoid with her touching everything she could ... "you break it - you buy it" was reverberating through my head.

I breathed a bit easier when she decided to stick to my husband's side rather than mine. You see, my husband and I don't walk through shops and flea markets together - we separate and each look on our own. It works for us.

Anyway, my family was waiting for me at the front of the mall, my daughter sitting pathetically on the floor because her feet and legs were tired, my husband waiting patiently, and I finally found something that "grabbed" me.

An Antique Trader Weekly annual. And at half price, too! From long before my time with the magazine started - 1982-1983 ... (let's see, I was a freshman in high school ... back then I wasn't the slightest bit interested in antiques) ... but now I want to go back through and read all the great features bound within its pages.

I could sit and read through it for hours: the evolution of the ice cream dipper; sewing machines; pie-making tools; Fostoria lamps; Staffordshire toy ware; Christmas seals; collecting washboards; the list of fabulous antique features goes on and on ...

Perhaps as I read through it I'll be inspired to start a new collection, or maybe revisit a subject or two in an upcoming issue of Antique Trader.

I guess even the Antique Trader is collectible now ...

The really great thing, the very next week, a collectibles club contacted Antique Trader inquiring about an old article on Christmas tree ornaments that was published back in 1982. Fate was watching out for all of us, because we found the article in the annual that I had just picked up. I get goosebumps thinking about it ...

Happy Hunting everyone!

— Posted by Karen Knapstein

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Antique Trader goes out in the mail today

Karen — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 14:56:14 GMT

Here's a look at our most recent cover:

Looks great, doesn't it?! This week's Antique Trader is packed full of information: We've got feature articles on collecting antique tools, including grading guides and practical advice. There's also a great story covering Renninger's Florida antique show that was held last month ... and so much more! And it's headed to subscriber mailboxes today.

Here are links to some of the antiques articles:

• Antique tool collecting gets down to brass tacks

• Stanley tools establishes itself as a new subset of tool collecting

• Ask Antique Trader: Mother of pearl ‘Last Supper’ valued at $2,000

• Speaking of Dolls: After 100 years, Bleuette still attracting new fans

• Vendors, shoppers dodge freezing temps at Renninger’s

— Posted by Karen Knapstein

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Antiques can be a labor of love

Karen — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 14:25:53 GMT

Justin Peddycoart’s column on page 10 of this week's Antique Trader is an interesting example of one man’s quest to become his own “American picker.”

Peddycoart writes about how a six-month experiment to generate his $800 rent payment strictly through buying and selling antiques and collectibles found at thrift stores. He writes, comically, of the trials and errors and lessons learned and sums it up with the biggest lesson he learned: Sure it was tough, but the thrill of finding something cheap and selling it for more is ‘the best feeling in the world.’ [CLICK HERE to read the article.]

That’s one of the reason’s why HISTORY’s new show American Pickers is enjoying its success. We get to watch someone find valuable things. What gives the show its controversy is something the greater public may be taking for granted.

Thanks to the explosion of antiques related media in the last decade (eBay, PBS’s Antiques Roadshow, trade papers disseminating free articles online) the collecting public and the average gawker is more educated than they’ve ever been. More people now know the value of their antiques and collectibles, which, in turn, can make it more difficult for the average dealer to make purchases that deliver a living wage.

Granted, it was hard to watch the first episode of American Pickers – in which the dealers walked away with a trove of finds for pennies on the dollar – future episodes show a more normal day-to-day existence for the average antiques dealer.

[CLICK HERE to read Antique Trader's feature on American Pickers]

[CLICK HERE to read the first batch of reader responses to our question of the week: "Do you think 'American Pickers' helps or hurts the antiques business?"]

It made the antiques business seem much easier than it is. Just ask Peddycoart. Although he said ‘thrifting’ for his rent was fun, he admits it is very difficult work.

One last similarity between Peddycoart’s experience and American Pickers is their self reliance. Peddycoart says he now lives with a peace of mind that if ever in a pinch for funds, he can turn to buying and selling to make ends meet.

I’d encourage you to share it with a young person in your life.

Speaking of Antiques Roadshow: The show’s producer, WGBH Boston, is holding an open call allowing amateur and independent filmmakers to submit a short film about an antique or family heirloom that holds some significant resonance to them.

This is a great opportunity for serious filmmakers interested in gaining exposure as final shorts could potentially be broadcast on WGBH and PBS stations around the country. Entries must be no longer than two minutes and can be submitted until June 1 through www.wgbh.org/lab.

Three winners will be rewarded with a pair of tickets to a live taping this summer.

— Eric Bradley

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Share your ‘secrets to success’

Karen — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 14:58:13 GMT

A wonderful, thought-provoking letter crossed my desk the other morning. It was in response to last issue’s regional focus story on Affordable Antiques of Naperville, Ill. [CLICK HERE to read the full article.] The writer liked the article but felt it was missing a few key points that are working for his business.

The author is Ron Curtis, owner of the Antiques & Collectibles Marketplace of Sacramento, Calif. He talks about how aspects such as location, dedication and reasonable rents are all vital contributors to a successful business.

However, Curtis brings up the subject of the importance of an active Web site. He does not use eBay for his sales. The sales are all driven through his own business site. How much? He says up to half of his business is conducted online.

That’s right. Half.

“We have 1,200 dolls on our Web site and are the last doll shop in Sacramento, with nine closing over the last 10 years, as they didn’t have a Web site,” he writes.

Curtis’ full letter will be published in a future issue. Until then, visit his Web site to see how it is organized and why it’s encouraging people to buy. You can find it at www.tace.com/ada.

Do you have a secret to success that helps you build a better collection or a better business? Please consider sharing by sending to the addresses below.
Welcome back Barbara

On page 10 we welcome the return of Barbara Andrews, author of the “Postcard Album” column. Barbara is back after a several month hiatus as she finished a new book. Believe me, you noticed. I received many letters from readers missing Barbara’s thoughtful columns. We’re glad to have her back. [CLICK HERE to read her most recent postcard column.]

Congrats!

Barbara Andersen of Brooksville, Fla., is the lucky winner of the Antique Trader Treasure Hunt Sweepstakes for January. She wins a new copy of Antiques Roadshow Behind the Scenes An Insider’s Guide to PBS’s #1 Weekly Show by producer Marsha Bemko.

Be sure to enter our February sweepstakes online for a chance to win a four-volume set of collectible postcard books from Bodleian Library of Oxford, England. The hardback set is an $80 value and includes Postcards of Lost Royals, Postcards from Utopia, Postcards from Checkpoint Charlie and Postcards of Political Icons.

— Eric Bradley

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New Antique Trader Sweepstakes Launched Feb. 1

Karen — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 21:41:38 GMT

I turned the calendar page this morning, which triggered a reminder for us to launch our February edition of the Antique Trader Treasure Hunt Sweepstakes.

We've got a fantastic prize for the February sweepstakes. Something that I absolutely KNOW our postcard enthusiast readers are going to LOVE.

What we're giving away to the lucky winner is a set of four hardcover postcard books published by Oxford University's Bodleian Library. Titles in the prize package include: Postcards from Checkpoint Charlie – Images of the Berlin Wall; Postcards of Lost Royals; Postcards from Utopia – The Art of Political Propaganda; and Postcards of Political Icons – Leaders of the Twentieth Century.

Each book has a cover price of $20, making the total prize package worth $80.

We'll be putting reminders to enter in each of our e-newsletters, but make sure you come back to http://sweepstakes.antiquetrader.com to enter each day for your best chance to win!

(Review Sweepstakes Rules)

— Posted by Karen Knapstein

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Question of the Week: Favorite books?

Karen — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 23:46:03 GMT

Our antiques question of the week:

What are some of your favorite antiques and collectibles reference books? Are all of them related to your own collections?

Do you see yourself picking up an e-reader (such as Kindle) in the not-too-distant future?

Send your replies to eric.bradley@fwmedia.com or to Letters to the Editor, c/o Antique Trader, 700 E. State St., Iola, WI 54945.

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• Reference books available about your favorite collectibles HERE
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• Browse the Antique Trader Classifieds or place your FREE online ads HERE.

Antique Trader has two cover features this week

Karen — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 22:57:33 GMT

The first feature we have is on funky and functional vintage aprons. A trendy sensation: Vintage aprons inspire a generation by Geets Vincent.

The second is on vintage magazines and the political cartoons therein, which are just as relevant today as they were 70+ years ago. Political cartoons predict the future by Suzanne Meredith.

As always, feel free to let us know what you think!

— Posted by Karen Knapstein

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• Reference books available about your favorite collectibles HERE
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Woody Auction to hold 'cabin fever' sale Feb. 13 in Wichita and on Proxibid

Eric Bradley, editor — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 21:43:15 GMT

Woody Auction is selling the lifetime personal collection from Elizabeth and Clarence Lee Dubois, featuring a stunning collection of KPM porcelain plaques.

Principal Jason Woody said the sale will be exception because Dubois has decided to hold the sale with no reserves. “This will be a great opportunity for folks to kick off the snow, shed that cabin fever and bid on some truly wonderful items for their collections,” he said. “The Dubois' were dedicated collectors for over fifty years.”

Tiffany & Co. will be represented in the sale. Anticipated top lots include a 17 ½ inch marked pedestal urn-shaped clock (at left) with yellow satin porcelain body, lavender cherub highlights and cobalt blue top; and a fantastic signed sterling silver reticulated basket with elaborate embossed blackberry and leaf décor. Also sold will be a nice, signed Nakara square-shaped hinged jewel box.

Plaques and plaque sets, many by KPM, will be abundant at the auction. Some KPM examples include an outstanding 20 inch by 16 inch marked oval porcelain plaque with a finely detailed portrait titled Rembrandt’s Mother, framed (at right); and a 10 inch by 7 ½ inch porcelain plaque set in the original ebony shadow box frame, signed R. Dietrich and with beautiful detailing of young women gathering flowers.

Additional KPM pieces will feature a 9-inch by 6-inch porcelain plaque in a gilt wooden frame, with a scene of a young girl holding a cat that’s watching a butterfly, unsigned; a 9 inch by 6-¼ inch marked porcelain plaque with a detailed scene of a servant girl with tea tray, artist signed; and a 9 ½ inch by 6 ½ inch unsigned marked porcelain plaque of Renaissance women carrying a sacred relic.

The sale starts at 9:30 a.m., Feb. 13 at the 4-H Hall of the Sedgwick County Extension Center in Wichita. Live bidding is available the morning of at Proxibid.com.

Reward offered for trailer of antique furniture stolen in St Paul, Minn.

Karen — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 16:44:41 GMT

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Police are still searching for a 14-foot Pace trailer full of antique furniture that was stolen Dec 10 from the parking lot of J & E Antiques in St Paul, Minn.

The trailer held two reproduction mahogany Morris chairs decorated with full standing lions, two oak hall trees with bench seats, many Empire-style oak library tables, a library table with caning decoration and several display tables used for setting up at shows. The trailer also contained two sets of chairs, fishing tackle and an outboard motor.

A reward is offered and anyone with knowledge of the theft is asked to call 612-961-3401 or 612-708-3946. The theft is documented under St Paul Police Case #09-261-474; the trailer's license number is (Minn) CTA 2945.

-posted by Eric Bradley

Antiques news you won't want to miss

Karen — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 23:44:00 GMT

Click on the links below to read the articles:

Red Baron’s three-day fall auction a success

Dealers from 12 states to attend Antiques in Charlottesville

Audubon’s ‘Birds of America’ folio brings $272,000

Art Deco and Modernism light up San Francisco

Worthpoint, Heritage Auctions announce mobile phone applications

Original Frederick Remington plaster model will be sold in January auction

Archive of cigar label proofs among top lots in Dec. 3 map, ephemera sale

Carved box that consignor used for storage realizes $26,450 in Thanksgiving sale

Jumeau doll found in the Midwest brings $37,375

Visit www.antiquetrader.com for more news and features.

— Posted by Karen Knapstein

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• Reference books available about your favorite collectibles HERE
• Antique Trader message boards HERE.
• Browse the Antique Trader Classifieds or place your FREE online ads HERE.

Wunderkammer on the cover

Karen — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 20:44:02 GMT

"What's a Wunderkammer?" you ask ... why, it's a "chamber of wonders." And we've got a fantastic feature from Melody Amsel-Arieli on the cover of this week's Antique Trader.

CLICK HERE to read The Wunderkammer: Curiosity cabinets were the birth of modern museums

Drop us a line here on the blog, in the forums, or at eric.bradley@fwmedia.com and let us know what you think ...

— Posted by Karen Knapstein

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• Reference books available about your favorite collectibles HERE
• Antique Trader message boards HERE.
• Browse the Antique Trader Classifieds or place your FREE online ads HERE.

Changing with your antiques customers

Karen — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 23:21:43 GMT

Responses to Wayne Jordan’s guest column published in last week’s issue are coming in fast and furious. It seems Mr. Jordan, a Virginia appraiser and auctioneer, struck a nerve in both veteran and novice dealers alike with his comments on how the antiques trade can reach out to members of Generation X. Generation X is typically defined as those age 30 to 50 who are just now coming into their prime collecting years.

One reader said if the antiques trade wants to survive in its present form, it must better support the efforts of young professionals. He’s onto something here.

It’s safe to say that most collectors or dealers were influenced by an educated or passionate relative or friend at one time. Sometimes this figure came late in life: a dealer who shares a customer’s passion for an obscure antique. Other times it happens early: a relative who takes a youngster under their wing to show them that collecting is fun.

However, there are too few efforts to mentor young dealers or otherwise show them the ropes. Dealers are an independent and hardworking group and a business plan that works for one dealer likely won’t work for another. Consider that there are thousands of dealers nationwide and only a few groups exist to pull them together toward a common goal – and membership in these groups is relatively small and tight knit.

So “young” dealers have it rough: they experience high competition for quality goods, are automatically considered “outsiders” and the ever-shrinking markets make a successful career in antiques seem unlikely.

However, antiques shows are leading the way to appeal to younger buyers.

The Baltimore Summer Antiques Show annually holds compelling lecture series that are free to the general public. Topics are fresh and intellectually stimulating.

The DC Big Flea is offering free admission for any customer under the age of 30 on Jan. 10 on what’s being called “Young Consumer Sunday.”

“We are seeing so many more young people in their twenties shopping our shows,” says Joan Sides, who founded the Big Fleas in D.C., Fredericksburg and now Baltimore. “Too, they are tired of the mass-produced, Ikea, cookie cutter look that was so popular in the late ‘90s. And, they are finding that these pieces, that were so affordable and necessary in decorating their first home or studio apartment, just can’t take the wear and tear of daily living.”

It appears Sides is taking advice from Martin Codina, owner of Fine Estate Sales and Estate Liquidation of San Rafael, Calif. Codina’s letter to the editor printed on page 5 sums it up: Never give up. Change with your customers.

Eric Bradley
Editor

Question of the Week: Antiques business advice

Karen — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 22:57:14 GMT

Antique Trader Question of the Week:

When you started collecting or dealing, how did you benefit from a mentor or experienced relative?

What advice would you pass on to anyone trying to establish themselves in the antiques business?

Send your replies to eric.bradley@fwmedia.com or to Letters to the Editor, c/o Antique Trader, 700 E. State St., Iola, WI 54945.

— Posted by Karen Knapstein

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• Reference books available about your favorite collectibles HERE
• Antique Trader message boards HERE.
• Browse the Antique Trader Classifieds or place your FREE online ads HERE.

Collect.com Auctions Mesh Handbag Collection featured in New York Times

Karen — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 15:06:47 GMT

NEW YORK - New York Times antiques columnist Eve Kahn today featured Collect.com Auctions' metal mesh handbag sale. The auction, which closes Wednesday, includes the Dennis & Terri LaMothe collection of Whiting and Davis metal mesh handbags, jewelry and vintage fashion.

Kahn writes:

“There were no duplicates,” Mrs. LaMothe said. “I would play with them. I was like a kid. I would change the colors of the ones we had up to suit the seasons.”

The couple had hoped to donate the handbags to a museum, she said, but could not find one that would promise not to sell them. Owning them is not always easy; the metalwork can chip or corrode. “You can’t wrap them in plastic — it retains moisture,” Mrs. LaMothe said. “Don’t display them in a bathroom, that’s a real no-no, or leave them in a drawer exposed to powder or perfume.”

The auction’s costliest handbag, as of press time on Thursday, depicted Clark Gable (seen above) and was going for $750."

The LaMothes are tickled their collection is strong enough to be mentioned among those offered by Sotheby’s New York and Bonhams in New York. The two spent nearly 30 years developing a collection and body of research that represents the largest metal mesh collection ever to come to market: some 1,500 items - with no duplicates.

Kahn's column is online as well as in Friday's edition of The New York Times.

-posted by Eric Bradley

Antiques trade needs new blood

Karen — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 18:44:17 GMT

It's not often a column stops me in my tracks. Wayne Jordan's guest column in this week's issue of Antique Trader was one of them.

The entry below is my editor's from the Dec. 23 issue.

Thanks,
Eric

Antiques trade needs new blood

If you only read one article in this week’s issue turn to page 8.

Now.

The topic of Wayne Jordan’s guest column describes a far-reaching concern that will no doubt affect how we will buy, sell and enjoy antiques for the foreseeable future. Auctioneers have seen it. Dealers have seen it and you collectors have seen it: No new blood in antiques.

This is the ‘new norm’ for this hobby and trade. Indeed there are young people interested in antiques. Occasionally they are seen at shows and auctions; see page 5 for a report on one of today’s hottest young stars, Taylor Swift, 19, being spotted at the Nashville Music Valley and Tailgate Shows. However, the harsh reality is that there are not enough of them to support a trade as large as the one we have now. Rather than lament with his fellow auctioneers, Jordan works to define the problem and pose a solution.
Without new blood entering the hobby, we face an unfamiliar future. It doesn’t take much effort to link the disinterest of antiques and collectibles to an indifferent attitude about museums, artifacts and our cultural heritage. If you think that’s too melodramatic, take a look at what happened to Forney, Texas.

An article on page 12 shows the city’s retail economy is in shambles after it made antiquing a cornerstone of its downtown revitalization plans. Tax revenue is down and shops are closing left and right.

Could lovely Walnut, Iowa, be next? What about the shops in Somerville, N.J.? Will the 100 or so antique stores in Glendale, Ariz., become nothing but memory?

I’d like to see your thoughts on this issue and share them with readers. Meanwhile, make sure you see our next issue in which we visit a fledgling mall selling antique and vintage items with a very different type of business plan — one that is designed around young buyers.

Eric Bradley
Editor

Welcome Fred Taylor: Furniture Detective

Please join me in welcoming Fred Taylor to the roster of regular Antique Trader columnists. For years, Taylor has stood fast, never wavering from his love of antique furniture nor his advice that quality-made pieces will always hold their value. Taylor has been featured in Antique Trader before but we’re happy to make him a regular weekly feature from now on out. Based on the number of inquiries we get here at the offices on furniture, I have no doubt you readers will keep him plenty busy with your comments and questions.

Question of the Week: One way to reach younger buyers?

Karen — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 18:28:53 GMT

In order to reach younger buyers, should dealers sell an antique’s ‘function’ rather than its beauty or investment potential?

Post your replies here on the blog, or send your replies to eric.bradley@fwmedia.com or to Letters to the Editor, c/o Antique Trader, 700 E. State St., Iola, WI 54945.

You can also post your replies HERE in the Antique Trader forums.

— Posted by Karen Knapstein

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• Reference books available about your favorite collectibles HERE
• Antique Trader message boards HERE.
• Browse the Antique Trader Classifieds or place your FREE online ads HERE.

When do you close up shop for the weather?

Karen — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 14:46:35 GMT

The first big snowstorm of the winter hit Central Wisconsin last night and this morning, and it's still coming down. We were notified that the Iola office of F+W Media (publisher of Antique Trader) has been closed due to the weather emergency.

This is the first time that I can recall our office closing. It may have happened before when I was on vacation, but it's a first for me.

"Back in the old days," when Krause Publications was self-owned, it never closed. We ran under the assumption that someone would always make it in.

How about you? Do you close your shop due to inclement weather? Thinking that no one (in their right mind) will be out searching for antiques in a blizzard, torrential rain, what-have-you ...

While many of you are out shoveling snow (or playing in the snow), I'll be clicking away at the keyboard, uploading articles onto www.antiquetrader.com and readying our next e-newsletter (which goes out on Friday, by the way).

Drop us a line (eric.bradley@fwmedia.com) and let us know: How bad does the weather have to be before you close up your antique shop?

— Posted by Karen Knapstein

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Closing Date Extended in Collect.com Vintage Handbag Auction

Karen — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 17:08:41 GMT

Collect.com Auction’s Dec. 16 Sale Features the lifetime metal mesh, vintage celebrity couture collection of Dennis & Terri LaMothe

IOLA, Wis. – By popular demand, bidding has been extended in Collect.com Auctions’ presentation of 487 lots of the Dennis & Terri LaMothe metal mesh collection, plus additions. This Internet, absentee and phone auction closing Dec. 16 is the largest assortment of metal mesh – mostly produced by Massachusetts’ famous Whiting & Davis Co. – ever to come to auction. It includes classic mesh handbags and iconic celebrity memorabilia from Cher and Lisa Hartman Black.

It was the LaMothes who the Whiting & Davis Co. contacted to create a 110-year retrospective on the firm’s best examples for its anniversary celebration. The company gave the couple exclusive and unfettered access to archives. As such, the sale contains more than 250 lots of stunning mesh handbags.

The LaMothes took special pride in collecting unique pieces such the Whiting & Davis handbag decorated with enameled metal mesh in a shimmering likeness of Clark Gable (estimate $2,500-$3,000). Other specialty handbags include Mickey Mouse ($500-$1,000), Charlie Chaplin ($2,500-$3,000) and a special commemorative produced for the 1934 Chicago World’s Fair ($1,000-$1,200).

The auction will feature a comprehensive selection of Whiting & Davis’ highly desirable “El Sah” mesh handbags, including a circa 1920s example still retaining its delicate compact built into its gold tone metal frame (estimate $250-$350). The auction also features classic plain, enameled and colored Mandalian Handbag lines such as a stunning Gloria purse. In addition to being the most complete collection of Whiting & Davis handbags, the collection is a shimmering cross-section of American vintage couture, including celebrity memorabilia including a pair of mesh gloves worn by Cher during the height of her late 1980s comeback tour.

A fully illustrated catalog for Collect.com Auction’s Dec. 16 sale of the Dennis & Terri LaMothe Collection, plus additions, is viewable through www.collect.com/auctions or by calling 888-463-3063.

All absentee forms of bidding are available through www.Collect.com Auctions or by calling 888-463-3063, fax 715-445-4087 or e-mail at auctions@collect.com. The Dec. 16 auction carries a 17 percent buyer’s premium.

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It really is in the mail today ...

Karen — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 22:34:35 GMT

... the newest edition of Antique Trader, that is.

Here's a look at the cover:

It looks great, doesn't it? And it's packed with antique news and features, too!

Visit www.antiquetrader.com for your antiques news fix.

Inaugural Baltimore Big Flea draws the crowds

Original York Antiques Show & Sale returns in January

Record number of bidders take part in poster sale

Japanese toys gross $700K in November auction

Rare diamond brings eight figures at Christie’s auction

Glass museum launches drive to clear mortgage

“American Pickers” coming to television

Art restoration company reveals $300K Duncanson painting

Greater Charlotte Show sells to Lydia Sullivan

Tiffany on Display: Colorado collector shares his passion with the world

... that's a lot of news, isn't it?! And that's not all of it, either!

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